坎坷

kǎnkě

adjective HSK 7-9 #16,353

Meanings

1 bumpy (road)
2 rough (life)
3 full of setbacks

Characters

pit; ridge; uneven

Examples

HSK 4

他的一生非常坎坷。

Tā de yìshēng fēicháng kǎnkě.

His life has been very rough.

HSK 6

虽然道路坎坷，但她从未放弃。

Suīrán dàolù kǎnkě, dàn tā cóngwèi fàngqì.

Although the road was bumpy, she never gave up.

Tips

usage

坎坷 is almost always used figuratively for a difficult life or career path. 一生坎坷 (a rough life) and 命运坎坷 (a rough fate) are extremely common collocations.

Stroke Order

坎 kǎn

坷 kě